Albert Matthew DRURY #863

Albert Drury was born in 1892 at Nelligan, NSW to Matthew and Ruth Drury (nee Willoughby). He was employed as a labourer at Farleigh, Mackay when he volunteered to serve with the first AIF in December 1914.

Albert Drury embarked on board HMAT Star of England from Brisbane in April 1915 and landed at Gallipoli in May. He was slightly wounded in November, but stayed with his Battalion. Allied troops were evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915 and the 5th Light Horse returned to Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt to gather strength.

The 5th Light Horse’s main activity in 1916 was long range patrolling in the Sinai Desert, followed by the battles of Gaza in Palestine, and holding the west bank of the Jordan River in 1918.

Albert Drury spent some time in the infectious diseases hospital in Cairo, suffering from Malaria and abscesses, common among troops serving in the Jordan Valley.

Trooper Drury embarked for Australia in June 1919, where he returned to live and work at Farleigh near Mackay.